New York will become the first state to ban the use of gas stoves and heating, according to new rules released with Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2024 Budget, which included measures to decarbonize buildings and to invest in new renewable energy projects aimed at helping the state achieve its climate goals.

New York passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) in 2019, setting into law the state’s commitments to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40% by 2030 and at least 85% by 2050, on a 1990 basis.

Buildings account for more than 30% of New York’s GHG emissions.

In a statement announcing the adoption of the budget, the Governor’s office said:

“The final adopted Budget makes New York the first state in the nation to advance comprehensive legislation for constructing modern zero-emission new homes and buildings that will protect our families and our residents, while putting New York on trajectory to a cleaner, healthier future.”

The new budget sets requirements to advance zero emission construction in new buildings, with rules phasing out the use of fossil fuels in new buildings up to seven stories by 2026, and all other new buildings by 2029, with exceptions including hospitals, critical infrastructure and commercial food establishments, and buildings where the local electric grid are unable to handle the load of new all-electric buildings. Homes with existing gas appliances will not be affected by the rules.

In addition to the building decarbonization measures, the budget also advances New York’s plan to introduce a “Cap-and-Invest” program to help fund emissions reduction initiatives and support vulnerable communities facing rising energy prices by requiring large emitters to pay over $1 billion per year. Introduced earlier this year by Governor Hochul, the program would require large-scale GHG emitters and distributors of heating and transportation fuels to purchase allowances for the emissions associated with their activities, based on an economy-wide emissions cap, which would be reduced every year, on a trajectory aligned with the state’s Climate Act.

Hochul said:

“This Budget shows an unprecedented commitment to green infrastructure, reducing emissions from the building sector, and protecting clean water. I thank my colleagues in the Legislature for their collaboration on a transformational Budget that represents one of the most ambitious packages our state has advanced as we continue the fight against climate change.”

The post New York Bans Fossil Fuels in New Buildings Starting 2026 appeared first on ESG Today.